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A review by beckymmoe
Never Have I Ever With a Duke by Darcy Burke
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 8/28/19.
Never Have I Ever With a Duke is the first in Ms. Burke's Spitfire Society series, a spinoff of her Untouchables books. It will work fine as a standalone as it nicely sets up a new group of characters for readers to love; for those who have read the original series, several favorite characters will make guest appearances here to make you smile.
I really liked both Arabella and Graham; Ms. Burke made them both very likable. She gave them as good a reason that they couldn't be together (poverty and impending ruin in society if it is discovered) as she did a compelling one that they should (solid chemistry, helped along with fencing lessons...and an excellent recipe for butter biscuits.) Even as I wanted them to be together, I despaired that they would find a way to be able to.
I loved how Ms. Burke had the two of them working together to try to bring the swindler who caused their mutual financial distress to task; it made for some fun reading. I hate to admit, though, that though I was thrilled that they did find an HEA (of course they did! It is romance, after all...) the way that they achieved it just didn't have the impact that I had been hoping for--it felt a bit flat. Still, an HEA is an HEA--and apparently, the secret to a happy life is "love, butter biscuits, and a dog" so--mission accomplished.
I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, Ripley and Pheobe's story. Is it February yet? ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Never Have I Ever With a Duke is the first in Ms. Burke's Spitfire Society series, a spinoff of her Untouchables books. It will work fine as a standalone as it nicely sets up a new group of characters for readers to love; for those who have read the original series, several favorite characters will make guest appearances here to make you smile.
I really liked both Arabella and Graham; Ms. Burke made them both very likable. She gave them as good a reason that they couldn't be together (poverty and impending ruin in society if it is discovered) as she did a compelling one that they should (solid chemistry, helped along with fencing lessons...and an excellent recipe for butter biscuits.) Even as I wanted them to be together, I despaired that they would find a way to be able to.
I loved how Ms. Burke had the two of them working together to try to bring the swindler who caused their mutual financial distress to task; it made for some fun reading. I hate to admit, though, that though I was thrilled that they did find an HEA (of course they did! It is romance, after all...) the way that they achieved it just didn't have the impact that I had been hoping for--it felt a bit flat. Still, an HEA is an HEA--and apparently, the secret to a happy life is "love, butter biscuits, and a dog" so--mission accomplished.
I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, Ripley and Pheobe's story. Is it February yet? ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.